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1 worker killed, 2 rescued after trench collapse at Mass. sewer project

Firefighters spent hours digging out two trapped workers after a trench collapsed near Yarmouth’s Parker’s River Beach

By Charlie McKenna
masslive.com

YARMOUTH, Mass. — A worker was killed and two others were rescued after a trench collapse at a sewer construction site in Yarmouth Tuesday morning, according to the town’s fire department.

The fire department was called to the construction site adjacent to Parker’s River Beach at 152 South Shore Drive around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday by a police officer working a detail. The initial report indicated several people were trapped in the trench, the department said in a statement.

All on-duty personnel were sent to the scene and officials requested a full department recall, bringing in off-duty personnel, according to the statement.

The first units arrived to the scene at 8:55 a.m. and reported three people hurt. One of the three managed to pull himself out of the trench, while another man was buried up to his waist and a third man was completely entrapped, according to the fire department.

It took hours for officials to free the second man, who was pulled out at around 1:20 p.m. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital by Boston Med Flight , the department said.

The rescue operation continued until the third worker, who died of his injuries, was removed from the trench around 2:45 p.m. , the department said.

“The Yarmouth Fire Department extends our deepest sympathies to the victim’s loved ones and our appreciation to all responders for their professionalism during this tragic incident,” the statement reads.

The incident remains under investigation by local, state and federal authorities.

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